Valve actuating means

ABSTRACT

Actuating means for a valve, particularly of the plug type, which is movable between operative positions by successive modes of movement, one being axially and another rotationally, wherein a rotatably driven nut is in threaded engagement with a valve stem, a cam controlled device acting respectively at predetermined positions of the nut to permit relative movement of the nut so as to move the stem in the axial mode, and to connect the nut and stem for unitary rotation so as to move the stem in the rotational mode, guiding means being provided for the stem, so that it cannot be moved in a subsequent mode until the prior mode has first been completed.

United States Patent [191 Heinen 1 1 Feb. 26, 1974 VALVE ACTUATING MEANS[75] Inventor: Irving J. Heinen, Lakewood, Calif.

[73] Assignee: Aerojet-General Corporation, El

Monte, Calif.

[22] Filed: July 10, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 270,339

[52] US. Cl. 74/22, 251/229 [51] Int. Cl. F16h 21/00 [58] Field ofSearch... 74/89.l5, 625, 22, 424.8 VA;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,046,802 7/1962 Cupedo74/22 3,327,826 6/1967 Henschke 74/424.8 VA 3,207,468 9/1965 Lauducci etal. r. 74/89.l5 3,315,413 4/1967 Beecher et a1 74/89.l5

Primary Examiner-Leonard H. Gerin Assistant Examiner-Wesley S. Ratliff,Jr. Attorney, Agent, or FirmWhann & McManigal 5 7 ABSTRACT Actuatingmeans for a valve, particularly of the plug type, which is movablebetween operative positions by successive modes of movement, one beingaxially and another rotationally, wherein a rotatably driven nut is inthreaded engagement with a valve stem, a cam controlled device actingrespectively at predetermined positions of the nut to permit relativemovement of the nut so as to move the stem in the axial mode, and toconnect the nut and stem for unitary rotation so as to move the stem inthe rotational mode, guiding means being provided for the stem, so thatit cannot be moved in a subsequent mode until the prior mode has firstbeen completed.

12 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PATENIEDFEBZSiQM I r sum 2 0r 2 A IIIVALVE ACTUATING MEANS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present inventionrelates to the field of valves. I-leretofore, it has been generallyknown from U. S. Pat. No. 2,795,960, to provide plug valve actuatingmeans in which the rotation of a hand-wheel will first lift the plug offof its seat, and then rotate the plug from a closed to an openedposition, or vise versa.

While the actuating means disclosed in the aforementioned patentproduces the desired operating characteristics, the rather complicateddesign is such that the valve is rather difficult to fabricate andrelatively expensive to build.

The present invention therefore constitutes an improvement over theactuating means disclosed in the patent, and seeks generally to modifyand rearrange the component parts so as to not only obtain a greatlysimplified arrangement which can be more economically produced, butwhich can also be utilized to provide additional desirable attributes,for example, a positive visual indication as to whether the valve is inan opened or a closed position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally tovalve actuating means, and is more particularly concerned with improvedmeans for moving the valve axially off the valve seat, and rotating itto an opened position, and vise versa.

One object of the present invention is to provide improved valve openingand closing means, wherein the component parts coact automatically, uponcontinued movement of a driven element in one direction, to first liftthe valve from its seated position and then rotate the valve into anopened position, or vise versa.

A further more specific object is to provide valve actuating meansaccording to the foregoing object, wherein means for selectivelydetermining and limiting the axial and rotational movements of the valveactuatin g stern are longitudinally spaced of the stem from the meansfor locking and releasing the rotatable driven means with respect to thestem for unitary and relative movements.

A still further object is to provide valve actuating means which areoperable through the valve stem to lift and rotate the valve, in goingfrom one operating position to the other, and wherein the valve stempositon serves as a positive indication of the valve orientation andshows whether it is in an opened or a closed position.

Another object is to provide improved locking means for valves of thetype described herein, in which a cam member controls the operation of alocking roller for connecting and disconnecting a rotatable drivenelement with respect to a valve operating stern.

Still another object is to provide control means for such valves, whichutilizes a unique L-groove and pin guide means for controlling movementsof the valve stem during opening and closing movements of the valve.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be brought out inthe following part of the specification, wherein detailed description isfor the purpose of fully disclosing one embodiment of the inventionwithout placing limitations thereon.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring to the accompanyingdrawings, which are for illustrative purposes only:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a valve according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view, taken substantially on line 2-2of FIG. 1; 7

FIGS. 3a, 4a and 5a are sectional views taken substantially on lines3--3, 4-4 and 5-5 of FIG. 1 showing the relative orientation of thecomponents at these positions, when the valve is open;

FIGS. 3b, 4b and 5b are similar sectional views, showing therelationship of the components, when the valve is in a neutral positionbetween its opened and closed positions; and

FIGS. 30, 4c and 5c are similar sectional views, show ing theorientation of the components in the closed position of the valve.

Description of a Preferred Embodiment Referring more specifically to thedrawings, there is shown a valve mechanism, indicated generally at 10,and a valve actuator indicated generally at 11.

The valve mechanism 10 is of the general type disclosed in detail in US.Pat. No. 3,362,433, issued Jan. 9, 1968. Briefly, the valve mechanism 10comprises a valve body 12 having a cylindrical bore 13 therein open atthe ends and providing a chamber for the operative reception of a valveplug 14 of generally wedge-shaped configuration, this plug being axiallysupported for rotational and limited raising and lowering movements upona bottom stub shaft 15 having a bearing support in a lower end closureplate 16, and a valve stem 17 connected by a coupling 18 to a stem 19 ofthe actuator and which is supported in a bearing bushing 20.

The valve plug 14 is operatively associated with similarly constructedslip member 21, 21 diametrically positioned on opposite sides of thevalve plug. The plug and slips are interconnected for relative slidingmovement by means of conventional dove-tail groove and tenon connectionsafter the manner and for operating association as disclosed in theaforementioned patent.

For clarity in FIG. 1, the valve closed position of the plug 14 isindicated in phantom lines, and the raised position, prior to rotationto fully opened valve position, is shown in full lines. The valve stem17 and connected parts of the actuating means are shown in an operativeposition corresponding to that for a fully opened valve.

From the bore 13, radially extending fluid passages 22 and 23 in thevalve body provide communication with connection flanges 24 and 25,respectively, whereby the valve body may be connected with associatedconduits or pipes in the usual manner.

The valve actuator 11 is supported upon a bonnet 26 which includes anelongate tubular structure 27 having a connection end flange 28 which isconnected in coaxial relation to the bore 13 on the valve body by meansof appropriate retaining bolts 29. At its uppermost end, the tubularstructure 27 is formed with a connection end flange 30 which isconnected with the periphery of a gear housing 31 of the actuator bymeans of appropriate retaining bolts 32.

As shown in FIG. 1, the stem 19 is carried upwardly through the gearhousing 31 and has an upper end portion 33 extending through a top wall34 of the housing in which it is sealed by an appropriate ring seal 35.The projecting portion 33 of the stem is provided with a cross member 36or other appropriate indicating means for showing the orientation of thevalve; that is, whether the valve is opened or closed. A directindication is thus provided, and since the valve stem connects directlywith the valve, alignment of the crossmember 36 with the longitudinalaxis of the valve body 12 will indicate that the valve is in openedposition, whereas with the cross-member extending transversely of thevalve body, there will be an indication that the valve is closed.

Within the gear housing, the stem 19 is constructed with an externallythreaded portion 37 which is in threaded relation with internal threads38 of a surrounding worm gear 39. The worm gear 39 constitutes rotatabledriven means for producing the desired movement of the stem 19, as willhereinafter be described in detail. The worm gear is formed with upperand lower end hub portions 40 and 41 which are respectively supported insuitable anti-friction bearings 42 and 43. The worm gear 39 meshes witha worm 44 carried by a transversely extending drive shaft 45, this shaftbeing supported in anti-friction bearing assemblies 46 and 47, as shownin FIG. 2. While the drive shaft 45 is shown in FIG. I as beingconnected with a hand-wheel 48 to provide manual operation, it is to beunderstood that the drive shaft may, if desired, be connected withsuitable power means such as a hydraulic or electric motor.

From a consideration of the mounting arrangement of the worm gear andthe stem 19, it will be appreciated that if the stem 19 is restrainedagainst rotational movement, relative rotation of the worm gear 39 willserve to move the stem in its axial mode. Also, if the stem isconstrained against axial movement and the worm gear and stem areinterlocked for unitary rotation, rotational movement of the worm gearwill effect movement of the stem in its rotational mode.

First means are therefore provided for guiding and limiting the sternmovement to one mode, and opposing its movement in the other mode untilsuch time as the first mode is completed. In the disclosed arrangement,the coupling 18 is utilized for this purpose, and as shown in FIGS. a,5b and 5c the outer cylindrical surface of the coupling is fabricatedwith an L-shaped groove 49 in which one leg 50 extends axially of thelongitudinal axis of the connected stems 17 and 19, and the other leg 51extends circumferentially of the stem axis for an angle of substantially90. Operatively associated with the coupling is a guiding pin 52 whichis fixedly supported on the tubular structure 27 of the bonnet by meansof a mounting screw or bushing 53 so that the innermost end of the pinrides within the groove 49.

In the opened position of the valve, the pin 52 is positioned at theclosed end of the leg 51 of the groove as shown in FIG. 5a. To close thevalve, the coupling 18 will have to be rotated clockwise until the pinreaches a neutral position as shown in FIG. 5b. In this position, thecoupling is released for axial downward movement so as to relativelyposition the pin 52 adjacent the upper closed end of the leg 50 of thegroove 49. The stem structure is thus limited and guided in the cyclicmovements necessary to carry the valve between its closed and fullyopened positions.

Second means will now be described which are positioned adjacent theworm gear 39 in axial spaced relation to the first means as describedabove.

The lower end hub portion 41 of the worm gear is formed with a segmentalend projection 54 which terminates at one end in an abutment shoulder 55which is arranged to engage a radially extending pin 56 on the stem 19when it is at the upper limit of its axial movement and during whichtime the guiding pin 52 is posi tioned in the groove leg 51. During thistime, the worm gear 39 and stem 19 are interconnected for unitaryrotative movement. For this purpose, the lower end hub portion 41 isprovided with a radial opening or passage 57 which is aligned with arecess 58 formed in the outer surface of the stem 19. A roller 59 ofappropriate diameter is positioned in the passage, this roller beingmovable into and out of the recess to respectively lock the worm gearand stem for unitary movement, and release the same for independentmovements.

The release and locking operations are controlled by camming means whichare shown as comprising a ring member 60 which is fixedly mounted withinthe tubular structure 27 as by press-fit of its outer periphery therein.The ring member is constructed with an inner peripheral edge of which aprojecting portion forms a camming edge 61 which extends through acircumferential angle of substantially During movement of the roller 59along this camming edge, the roller will be retained inwardly in alocking position within the recess 58 and interlock these parts forunitary movement. The remainder of the inner peripheral edge isconstructed to provide a recessed camming edge portion 62 which extendscircumferentially for substantially 270. When the roller is associatedwith the camming edge 62, it is relieved so that it may move outwardlyin the opening 57 to a non-locking or released position with respect tothe recess 58, whereupon the parts may be independently relativelymoved.

In operationwith the valve in open position, the components of theactuating means will be oriented as shown in FIGS. 3a, 4a and 5a. Toclose the valve, the worm gear 39 will be rotated in a clockwisedirection so that the interlocked stem 19 and lower end hub portion 41will be moved as a unit and carry the roller 59 along the camming edge61. During this movement, the coupling 18 will correspondingly rotateuntil the pin 52 reaches the neutral position in the groove 49, as shownin FIG. 5b. At this position, the roller 59 will leave the camming edge61 and engage the recessed camming edge 62 which permits the roller tomove outwardly of the stem recess 58, as shown in FIG. 3b. Continuedmovement of the worm gear in a clockwise direction will relatively movethe abutment shoulder 55 out of engagement with the pin 56, and due tothis relative movement of the worm gear will act through the threads 37and 38 in a manner to axially move the coupling 18 downwardly to carrythe valve to a fully closed position wherein the guiding pin 52 will beadjacent the uppermost end of the groove leg 50 as shown in FIG. 5c. Inthe fully closed position of the valve, the roller 59 will be positionedalong the camming edge 62 at an angular position of substantially 180,more or less. To open the valve, the above cycle of operations willmerely be reversed.

From the foregoing description and drawings, it will be clearly evidentthat the delineated objects and features of the invention will beaccomplished.

Various modifications may suggest themselves to those skilled in the artwithout departing from the spirit of my invention, and, hence, I do notwish to be restricted to the specific form or forms shown or usesmentioned, except to the extent indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Actuating means for moving a valve between operative positions bysuccessive movements, one of which is axial and the other rotational,comprising:

a. means for moving said valve, including a stem supported for axial androtational movements, said stem having a threaded part;

b. rotatable driven means having threads coacting with the threads onsaid stem and being operable upon relative rotation to move the stemaxially;

c. first means at a position axially of said stem generally adjacent tosaid valve for limiting the extent of axial movement of said stem, andat one limit of said axial movement enabling limited rotational movementof said stem; and

d. second means at a spaced position axially of said stem, generallyadjacent said rotatable means and controlled by its movement for lockingsaid stem and rotatable means together for limited unitary rotation.

2. Actuating means according to claim 1, wherein the stem carries across-member for indicating the operative position of the valve.

3. Actuating means according to claim 1, wherein the rotatable drivenmember comprises a worm gear having driving engagement with a worm.

4. Actuating means according to claim 1, wherein the first meanscomprises an annular wall element mounted coaxially around said stem andhaving an L- shaped groove positioned with one leg of the grooveextending axially of the stem and the other leg extendingcircumferentially ofthe stem, and a pin element extending into saidgroove and being relatively movable therealong, one of said elementsbeing affixed to and movable with said stem, and the other being fixed.

5. Actuating means according to claim 4, wherein the wall element iscarried by the stem.

6. Acutating means according to claim 3, wherein the worm gear has anend hub projecting portion, and the stem carries a radially extendingpin engaged by said portion at a predetermined axial position of saidstem.

7. Actuating means according to claim 6, in which the projecting portionis segmental and has an end abutment shoulder engageable with said pin.

8. Actuating means according to claim 1, wherein said second meansincludes a peripheral recess in said stem, a radial opening in saidrotatable means alignable with said recess at a predetermined positionof said stem, and a roller in said radial opening movable into and outof said recess to respectively lock the rotatable means and stem forunitary movement and release the same for independent movements.

9. Actuating means according to claim 8, wherein the second meansfurther includes camming means operable to control the movement of saidroller.

10. Actuating means according to claim 9, wherein the camming meanscomprises a fixed ring member with a peripheral camming edge.

1 l. Actuating means according to claim 10, wherein the ring member ispositioned radially outwardly of the associated portion of saidrotatable means.

12. Actuating means according to claim 10, wherein the camming edge isformed to retain the roller in the recess of the stem during arotational movement of substantially

1. Actuating means for moving a valve between operative positions bysuccessive movements, one of which is axial and the other rotational,comprising: a. means for moving said valve, including a stem supportedfor axial and rotational movements, said stem having a threaded part; b.rotatable driven means having threads coacting with the threads on saidstem and being operable upon relative rotation to move the stem axially;c. first means at a position axially of said stem generally adjacent tosaid valve for limiting the extent of axial movement of said stem, andat one limit of said axial movement enabling limited rotational movementof said stem; and d. second means at a spaced position axially of saidstem, generally adjacent said rotatable means and controlled by itsmovement for locking said stem and rotatable means together for limitedunitary rotation.
 2. Actuating means according to claim 1, wherein thestem carries a cross-member for indicating the operative position of thevalve.
 3. Actuating means according to claim 1, wherein the rotatabledriven member comprises a worm gear having driving engagement with aworm.
 4. Actuating means according to claim 1, wherein the first meanscomprises an annular wall element mounted coaxially around said stem andhaving an L-shaped groove positioned with one leg of the grooveextending axially of the stem and the other leg extendingcircumferentially of the stem, and a pin element extending into saidgroove and being relatively movable therealong, one of said elementsbeing affixed to and movable with said stem, and the other being fixed.5. Actuating means according to claim 4, wherein the wall element iscarried by the stem.
 6. Acutating means according to claim 3, whereinthe worm gear has an end hub projecting portion, and the stem carries aradially extending pin engaged by said portion at a predetermined axialposition of said stem.
 7. Actuating means according to claim 6, in whichthe projecting portion is segmental and has an end abutment shoulderengageable with said pin.
 8. Actuating means according to claim 1,wherein said second means includes a peripheral recess in said stem, aradial opening in said rotatable means alignable with said recess at apredetermined position of said stem, and a roller in said radial openingmovable into and out of said recess to respectively lock the rotatablemeans and stem for unitary movement and release the same for independentmovements.
 9. Actuating means according to claim 8, wherein the secondmeans further includes camming means operable to control the movement ofsaid roller.
 10. Actuating means according to claim 9, wherein thecamming means comprises a fixed ring member with a peripheral cammingedge.
 11. Actuating means according to claim 10, wherein the ring memberis positioned radially outwardly of the associated portion of saidrotatable means.
 12. Actuating means according to claim 10, wherein thecamming edge is formed to retain the roller in the recess of the stemduring a rotational movement of substantially 90* .